As an active participant and a nearby resident of the Uptown community, I believe it is vital to present a point of view that is representative of the majority of people who live, work and thrive here, regarding the recent brouhaha over the development of new affordable housing in the Wilson Yard project of Uptown (“Noise and fury in Uptown,” Editorial, Sept. 6). Uptown is one of the richest communities in the entire nation–not because of its great financial wealth but because of its cultural and economic diversity. From Tibetan monks to Bosnian refugees to lifelong Chicagoans, Uptown is an intersection to the world. From my office window overlooking the corner of Wilson and Broadway, I am often entranced by the mosaic of humanity that passes by. Uptown is a point of entry for new American residents and a restarting point for others; it is also a destination for middle-class homeowners and upscale businesses.
With the commitment of our alderman, Helen Shiller (46th), as well as community-based organizations, local business and the majority of residents, we have all made this unique environment possible.
Inspiration Cafe has been a fixture in Chicago’s Uptown community for 15 years. With a mission of helping people exit homelessness with dignity and respect, we have consistently supported the goal to maintain Uptown as a mixed community where opportunity is available to all, regardless of income, national origin, housing status and the like. By creating an atmosphere in our cafe that values the dignity of all people and by demanding that our program guests and alumni actively work toward their own self-sufficiency, we have been able to build a bridge between the most marginalized of our neighbors and the greater community. Through our volunteer program, hundreds and hundreds of area residents have seen that people who are homeless or poor or who suffer from mental illness are people first, people who share the same goals and aspirations that we all share, for happiness, for safe communities, for decent homes. The development of new affordable housing in Wilson Yard will help to ensure the continuation of Uptown as a place open to all and exclusive of no one. This open-armed ideal may be unique, but it is one shared by a majority of the people who work and live in Uptown.
We are heartened by the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement of the plan to build this affordable housing but are equally discouraged by misrepresentations of the project and process by a vocal few. The fact is that the community has been coming together for several years now to discuss the use of this land and through a thorough community process has created a plan inclusive of all Uptown’s residents. It is a good plan that is consistent with the ideals of the whole community.
